I used to be similarly busy Matt, but I've cut down in the last couple of years as I'm sure overwork in frequently outside and wet conditions contributed to me getting a very heavy cold and then flu two Christmases running. Oddly enough, this weekend is my busiest with a job this afternoon, tomorrow and Sunday. I've still got a few rehearsals to negotiate too (even a few here at PRS. They do a pop/rock concert every year and they have a backing band which I'm in!) but generally less busier than in previous years. Pretty glad too!

Watford Band have about 6 engagements over Christmas which I think is a bit down on previous years.

However, when I played with a band in Sheffield we'd split into to 2 smaller bands and each band would be out every other night in the 3 weeks leading up to Christmas, mostly at pubs to lead carol singing. Is it just me or do more southerly bands/pubs not practise this fine art of public communal carol singing? I used to love it, I've never heard better carol singing than that in a packed pub, singing While Shepherds to one of about 16 local tunes.

One disgusting memory though, is of being in a pub so crowded, hot and smokey that nicotine was literally condensing on the high ceiling and dripping onto our white shirts!

when I played with a band in Sheffield we'd split into to 2 smaller bands and each band would be out every other night in the 3 weeks leading up to Christmas, mostly at pubs to lead carol singing. Is it just me or do more southerly bands/pubs not practise this fine art of public communal carol singing? I used to love it, I've never heard better carol singing than that in a packed pub, singing While Shepherds to one of about 16 local tunes.
Cheers, Greg.

Click to expand...

It wasn't Loxley band by any chance was it?

It was my training band and I have never been as busy at Chrristmas as I was then.
I used to love it too

When were you with Loxley? I was there from around '81 to '86, Mark Rotchell was MD.

Cheers, Greg.

Click to expand...

Missed you by quite a while. I was there from '94 to '99
Took my son to learn cornet and ended up learning bass myself.
I think the Christmas carols were the first things I really learnt to play properly, probably because of the number of times we played them.
I still think they are the best arrangements I have come across of the Local carols.
Mark Rotchell had left, I think he conducts a choir now. His brother Peter is playing in Chapeltown Band where I play now

After reading this thread I am actually counting my blessings! Last year Wem were out (rehearsal or engagement) for 5 nights out of 7 in a busy week in December. Don't get me wrong I don't mind giving my time freely - am normally quite generous with that. It's the cost that we have to actually pay to do it. Both my husband and I play so there's normally childcare charges, which are at least £10 per evening. Also living 55 mile round trip from Wem there's a decent amount of fuel costs, also the cost of time off work for some engagements that don't tally in with work committments! Any other time of year and perhaps the cost wouldn't appear so noticeable but with having to pay Santa - it always adds an extra strain and makes me a bit of a bah-humbug! Last year our conductor was very understanding - cheers Rog! :wink:

HOWEVER

This year instead of moaning about it, we've been a bit ruthless when it's come to band and have either taken the children to engagement (it was only late night shopping - very informal) or have simply had to prioritise, in which band doesn't always come first! It's hard letting the band down and you do feel guilty but until Santa makes playing in a brass band a paid profession - xmas will be full of tough banding choices for us!

Havent had a night off banding for 2 weeks thanks to xmas, am well and truly sick of it already!!! The concerts seem to start earlier every year and i will have done about 20 gigs by the time xmas actually gets here. Moan over!!!